This post may contain affiliated links, which means if you purchase an item I will earn commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
10 years ago today I took the leap of faith and moved to New York City. Ironically it was during a snow storm, which seems fitting for today. I remember being so excited but also scared. I grew up visiting New York, so somewhat knew what I was getting myself into in terms of the dirtiness, the hustle and bustle, and the expenses. However, it was a new chapter of my life, a huge change from what I thought my life would be like. A changed I’ve been dreaming about my entire life.
As a kid I knew I wanted to live in New York some day. I wanted to live here and go to Broadway shows every day. Each time I visited the city whether it was with family, my dance studio, or through my department in college, I knew I wanted to be a part of whatever was happening in this city. During one of our family trips my parents bought me a little painting from a street vendor that was a collage of all the wonderful attractions the city has to offer. Now I realize that this little print is in every souvenir store and street vendor, but for a middle school kid it was the coolest thing I have ever seen. I used to stare at the print, imagining myself living in the big apple. I remember back in the 90’s when SOHO was filled with artists on the streets. I thought how cool it would be to walk along these streets every day looking at peoples creations. Central Park seemed magical with horse drawn carriages. 5th Avenue with all it’s luxury stores made me feel like Sex and The City. And Broadway was the happiest place on earth. I knew, even as a kid, that someway, somehow this city would become my home.
2 years after college I started to feel restless in Columbus. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Ohio. I love where I grew up. I love the life I was fortunate to have here. My family and friends are here, who I love. If I ever end up back in Columbus, I would be happy. It’s a great place to live. But I wanted more for myself. I felt stuck, restless, lifeless in Columbus. So I started to apply to jobs in Chicago and New York. As much as I dreamed about living in NYC, I didn’t think it was where I would end up. I really thought I was going to move to Chicago. But God had other plans for me. I applied for an assistant position at the American Ballet Theatre in their Education and Community Outreach department. I didn’t get the job. Dennis, the director, called me and said he had already filled the position but will keep me in mind if something else opened up. A few weeks later I got a call from him, I was babysitting at the time and I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He told me the girl who originally had the position backed out and wanted to see if I was still interested. I said yes right away. 3 weeks later I moved to NYC. I didn’t have an apartment and slept on a guy friend of mine from High School’s couch. It all happened so fast but it was meant to be. Thank you to the girl who backed out of the position– you made the last 10 years possible!
Living in New York isn’t the easiest. Anyone living here will tell you it’s not for everyone. You have to be tough, resilient, and determined. It has tested me time and time again. I’ve become a much stronger more confident person and it’s all because of the city. I’ve cried on the subway, it’s like a right of passage really. I’ve gotten on the wrong train more times than I can count causing me to be late for something. I’ve trekked through inches of snow, sweat through my clothes in the heat. I’ve counted my pennies hoping to pay rent. I’ve lived in some awful, awful apartments. I’ve seen more crime,; fights, drug deals, and shootings than I ever cared to. Twice someone has tried to get me to follow them to a “secret place”. The city can be scary and heartbreaking. It can kick you when you are down, then kick you a few more times. But it also lifts you up higher than you ever thought possible. I’ve attended balls, galas, events that are beyond glamorous and chic. I’ve been to the opera and the ballet, drowning myself in the beauty of it all. I’ve summered in the Hamptons. Regularly attend New York Fashion Week. I’ve made great friends and meet some incredible people. I’ve fallen in and out of love here. I’ve found myself and the person I am suppose to be here. I feel more myself here than anywhere else. It’s a place where dreams come true if you are determined. It truly is the best city on the earth.
I don’t know what my future holds here in New York. I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon, but I do know I want to get married and have kids. I want my kids to have the suburban life with a yard to play in and a community of people who feel like family. I want space of my own, and a house to decorate. I want to have drinks on the patio with my husband and friends. Someday that will all happen. Until then I will continue to live out my dreams here in New York. There is still so much I want to do here and have yet to experience; Knicks game, Shakespeare in the Park, Coney Island to name a few. I have a running bucket list of things I want to do and experience, place I want to go. It’s been hard to not be able to cross things off my list over the past year because of COVID, but I know the city will someday bounce back. It will thrive once more. But the pandemic has also taught me something else. Even without the glamorous attractions, New York is still a magical place. Just walking around West Village or sitting in Central Park gives me so much joy. You can turn the corner and see something outrageous. The culture, the people haven’t changed. Seeing how the city band together to celebrate the nurses and doctors, how we’ve been there for one another in times of need. How people are still enjoying restaurants and bars outside during the summer (and some crazy ones in the winter). It’s truly like no other city in the world. 10 years later I still have the pinch me feeling, the heart about to burst with love and gratitude that God gave me this life. That God made the little girl staring at the print of NYC dream’s come true. It’s been an amazing ride and I can’t wait to see what blessings God has for me in the future. Cheers to 10 wonderful, crazy years!